“Is this really necessary?” Riley asked.
“If you don’t want to be tried for murder, it absolutely is,” he said and gestured at the trailer. “This links you and your family to the murders. C’mon, let’s get this done.”
They backed their vehicle into the trailer and pushed it over. They got out and watched in time to see it splash into the river below.
“Nobody would have ever found it,” Riley remarked.
“You guys thought the bodies would have never been found either.”
Riley scoffed. “Pure luck.”
“You’ve heard of Murphy’s Law, right? Never rely on luck going your way.”
Riley sighed. “I guess you’re right, but those weapons were valuable trade items. Dad’s not going to like it.”
Johnny G did not respond and continued staring down at the river. He’d deliberately helped dispose of evidence. He aided and abetted. He was an accessory after the fact. If he were ever caught, he’d be tried and executed along with the Fitzgeralds.
“Whether you realize it or not, when you killed Rochelle, you created a pivotal moment. The history of America has been changed.”
“Yeah, it’ll change for the better,” she said.
Johnny G grunted. He certainly hoped so. The two of them were silent now. They stood beside each other, staring at the river. Riley moved closer to him.
“Are you with me?” she asked.
“You knew the answer to that question before you even pulled out that bottle of vodka.”
Riley smiled and intertwined her arm with his. “You’ve never asked why.”
“No, I haven’t. I might one day. Until then, don’t tell me.”
Riley was silent a minute before speaking again. “She would’ve been a terrible president.”
“Her husband is convinced Zach is the one who killed her,” he said. “I’m not sure he’ll be any better as a president, but time will tell. Let’s change the subject. Tell me what you think of our future trading post?”
“It’s doable, but a little out-of-the-way. We could make it work but let me ask you something. Why don’t you create this trading post at Marcus Hook? We can set up a location nearby and hook you guys up on the power grid. Besides, I want you to live with me at Marcus Hook.”
Riley glanced and smiled slightly. “You really want me?”
“Yep.”
“I’d like that, but dad wants automation. That’s why he picked this place.”
Johnny G frowned in confusion for a moment. “Automation? Do you mean autonomy?”
“Yeah, autonomy. Independence. Nobody bossing us around.”
Johnny G rubbed his face with a free hand. He felt a few drops of cold rain and eyed the sky.
“Let me try to explain. Roscoe and I run Marcus Hook. You’ll have more resources at your disposal, and you’ll have armed personnel to protect you against any hostiles.” He hooked a thumb back toward the warehouse.
“If a thousand zeds descend on the place, you’d run out of ammunition before you killed them all. And what if it’s a wolfpack of marauders? Could you hold them off?”
Riley had broken eye contact with him and was again staring at the river. She too could see drops hitting the surface.
“What does your dad think about our relationship?”
“He kind of encouraged it,” she admitted.
Johnny G emitted a small, wry chuckle. For all he knew, Trader Joe encouraged everything from the start. All of it.
The rainfall started to intensify, and it felt more like sleet than rain. He tugged on his jacket. “The weather’s turning bad. Let’s get back to the warehouse and we’ll talk more,” he suggested.
Riley agreed. By the time they arrived back at the warehouse, their vehicle had a layer of ice on it and the rain was coming down harder. Riley grabbed an armful of logs that were stacked nearby and jogged up some stairs where they had made the living quarters. Johnny G unloaded some of their gear and trudged up the stairs. When he had walked in, Riley had put a couple of logs in the stove and was stoking it with a piece of rebar. He knew the metal of the barrel was not strong enough. After a year, the fire will have burnt into the bottom of the barrel and pose a fire hazard. He’d tell her later, but it looked fine for now. Riley waved a hand around.
“My brother and I built this. I packed the walls with insulation. It’ll be warm in here in no time,” she said.
“Good,” he replied. He dropped the gear, and sat on a couch. Riley walked over and sat beside him. He looked around.
“It’s one large room,” he observed.
“Yeah, we built it in a day. The closet over there is the bathroom, but all we have is a compost toilet. No indoor plumbing, yet.”
“It’s a good start, but it’s not big enough,” Johnny G said.
“You don’t think?”
“Not for six people,” he said. She stared in puzzlement. “Aren’t your dad and brother hooked up with Irena and Hermione?”
“Oh,” she said and laughed. “Yep, they are. I guess secrets don’t last long around the Hook. I don’t know how long it’ll last with either one, but I guess I see your point.”
“This could be a good alternate site, but I’m certain I can find a more suitable location somewhere close to Marcus Hook.”
“Before you start making plans in your head, you have to understand dad will insist on full control. He won’t want anyone telling him how to run it,” she said.
“He’ll get it. We all need to have a sit down with Roscoe when we get back.”
“Do you think Roscoe will go along with it?”
“Leave that to me. Your job is to get your father on board.”
“Oh, that’ll be easy enough,” she said. She pulled off her jacket and tossed it to the floor. “It’s starting to warm up in here.”
Johnny G stood and took off his outercoat. He smoothed it and put it across a nearby chair. When he sat back down, Riley snuggled close.
“The weather has turned ugly
